Professor Onyebuchi made it clear that as long as there is still one patient undergoing medical attention, Nigeria is not yet out of the wood.
The minister, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the meeting of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), at the Aso Presidential Villa, Abuja today, said that even if eventually Nigeria gets over Ebola, it would still not be time for jubilation.
“The only time for us to jubilate is when the disease is cleared from the earth. While Nigeria has successfully contained Ebola, it hasn’t eliminated the disease. As we speak, there is a case we are still managing. And even that case we are still managing must also have had her own third degree contacts, many of whom are part of this number of people that are under surveillance.
“So until we give a clean bill of health to every contact, we cannot even say we have eliminated the disease”
professor Onyebuchi said that Nigeria will remain at risk to Ebola and will only stop being at risk when the very last case of Ebola virus disease under this current epidemic has gone.
“It is still possible that Nigeria may record between 1 to 3 new cases because there are people under surveillance. There is still a chance one of the people under surveillance may fall sick and test positive.
“We have done well on containment but by no means have we eliminated the problem in Nigeria.” On the closure of schools across the country, the minister said that it has become necessary because the government would not want to take any chances.
“What will guide when schools will open will be when we issue advice to the rest of the government that we think we have dealt with all the contacts.” [myad]
